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Some devotees are concerned that Iskcon’s overall preaching has gone ‘soft,’ thus compromising true standards. They say we must be more ‘Strong’, ‘heavy’ and ‘bold.’ Sentiments of “See how Srila Prabhupada flayed those mayavadis… and how he blasted that individual… and oh how he smashed that perception…” add excitement to the cause. Let us examine what it really takes to be ‘heavy.’

There is excitement in reading of Lord Chaitanya’s conversion of Sri Prakasananda Sarasvati and his many follower

Dear Swami Bhaktivedanta,
I’ve read that your Krishna Consciousness is a non-sectarian science of the soul. How is it, then, that you follow some particular concept of God Krishna rather than a more universal concept, such as the One, or the All-Pervading Light? I like your movement very much, but I do feel this to be a clear contradiction in your philosophy. Yours truly,
Owen Darcy

My dear Mr. Darcy,
Thank you for your interest, and for your question also. I assure you that Krishna is not a co

From Back to Godhead

The unseen merciful hand of Lord Krsna helps a determined young science student become one of Srila Prabhupada’s first Indian disciples.

I was born in Aravade, a small village in the Indian state of Maharashtra that differs little from more than seven hundred thousand others in India. After I graduated from high school, my family sent me to Bombay to study chemistry in college. But my college career was not to be.

In the year 1971, in late March, something happened to preve

Radhanath Swami spoke recently at the home of Damodar Reddy, an entrepreneur and Founder of Sutisoft Inc., on the topic “Conscious Entrepreneurship – Deepening the Human Connection” as part of an event organized by Artha Forum. Artha Forum is a platform dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs, professionals and business leaders and bringing to them the relevance of ” Earn with Integrity, Spend With Compassion”. The event was attended by approximately 80 guests, including executives from Apple, Go

Paul Davies: SCIENCE, we are repeatedly told, is the most reliable form of knowledge about the world because it is based on testable hypotheses. Religion, by contrast, is based on faith. The term “doubting Thomas” well illustrates the difference. In science, a healthy skepticism is a professional necessity, whereas in religion, having belief without evidence is regarded as a virtue.
The problem with this neat separation into “non-overlapping magisteria,” as Stephen Jay Gould described science a

T.E. Holt: “In medicine, even the skillful ones, surgeons and physicians, themselves from Death all turn and flee — Fear of Death unhinges me.” — William Dunbar (1465–1530), translation by T.E. Holt, M.D. 
“Dude! You totally Melvined Death!” — Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) 
My first day of medical school was a series of inspirational talks. The tone, set by the anesthesiologist who led off, was lighthearted. His subject was “Everything you will ever need to know about medicine.” This turned

The following is an article published by the Times of India, as part of their “Speaking Tree” philosophy section. It was written by ISKCON devotee Chaitanya Charan Dasa. 
“I would believe in a God who could dance”, said German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. During his time, God was generally portrayed as a frozen perfection, remote, static, and wholly unsociable. No wonder he was disillusioned by this stereotypical idea of God.
Nietzsche would have been pleasantly surprised had he heard of Kr

Footage from our last ‘Inspire Sundays’ at Bhaktivedanta Manor with Janakinath Prabhu. In this presentation, he shares how he was able to battle cancer and still maintain an equipoised mind and cheerful attitude through his strong spiritual practices.
At the beginning of this year, I found out that one of my close friends, JD (a.k.a Janakinath) got diagnosed with cancer. When I spent time living as a monk, he gave me a lot of support and guidance, as he is and has been a monk for over 10 years!

The swastika may be offensive to many people, but it’s probably sacred to far more. And with one billion Hindus, Buddhists and Jains holding it as auspicious, it could hardly be considered “one of the most hated symbols in human history.”
When Hitler began using the swastika as the symbol for his Nazi party in the 1920s, he brought about the death not only of millions of innocent people, but also of an innocent symbol. His use of the beloved Hindu religious sign instilled so much hate for it in

SB 1.1.2 … sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ‘tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat …As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.

Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.2

By the hearing process Krsna IMMEDIATELY (sadyo) is established in the heart.

Please note the word RAPT [attention, in the previous quote] – there is a consistency in the Bhagavatam methodology. One has to hear attentively.

The sadhana of heari

The hero of India’s epic Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, is at a crossroad. He is intelligent, well-intending, and overwhelmed by a dilemma we all might recognize: the apparent incompatibility of worldly responsibilities and other-worldly aspirations. Arjuna is a warrior who feels the call to a more peaceful, non-invasive life. On the verge of a mammoth war he refuses to fight, even though the enemy is an aggressor who must be brought down. Like Arjuna, once we acknowledge the call to a more enlightened

Sri Vraja Mandala Parikrama

On behalf of ISKCON Vraja Manadala Parikrama (VMP), we would like to invite all the devotees to participate in 31st VMP 2017. 

Please find below the schedule of ISKCON Vraja Manadala Parikrama 2017

ISKCON Vraja Manadala Parikrama 2017 Schedule :    

Please find below photos from Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2017 at the ISKCON-London
Radha-Krishna Temple.

Slideshow (please turn on sound):
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/janmashtami_2017/slideshow

Gallery:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/janmashtami_2017


With best wishes,

   Hare Krishna,

      David.

On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, ISKCON Baroda observed the auspicious appearance day of Lord Krishna, Krishna Janmastami, in the usual grand manner.

The Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar Mandir was elaborately decorated with flowers. More than four hundred banana trees were erected throughout the temple and temple compound. Also there were festoons and flags installed at various
places in the temple compound.

All in all, the scene was grand!

As anticipated, thousands of citizens of Baroda flocked to ISK

BBC Radio: Musician Jahnavi Harrison explores why chanting the name of God can be such a powerful devotional practice.
Drawing on her own Hindu tradition, she recalls hearing her parents chanting and how important it became to her from an early age. “The name of God,” she explains, “is said to be the panacea for whatever ails the mind, body and soul. It was the ever present soundtrack to my life - night, day, birthdays, funerals, weddings and road trips.”
Her experience at a Christian school al

Vaisesika Das: After someone dies, friends and loved ones suddenly remember the deceased person’s good qualities, how important the person actually was to them, and so on.
“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone.”
Because this world is unpredictable, one should personally appreciate people while one has the opportunity.
Don’t wait.
Appreciate now.
“Your appreciation of devotees like Upendra and Ananda is super excellent. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this lesson—one who appreciates

I see two distinct aspects of humility: dependence on Krsna and acknowledging one’s faults. A strong personality may be better at the former and have more trouble with the latter. 
 
But there are healthy and unhealthy ways of being strong. So depending on how balanced a person is, they could also at least act humbly, even if they tend to be domineering by nature. If they work on themselves, they could also restrain their critical side.   
 
There is a saying that it is often easier to act your

[This wonderful lecture was one of the last given by HH Gour Govinda Swami, before departing from this world]

Mayapura: February 21, 1995 – Srimad Bhagavatam 4.18.33 – 36

gunadhikam mudam lipsed

anukrosam gunadhamat

maitrim samanad anvicchen

na tapair abhibhuyate

Translation: Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets some

Active Listening

Adapted, with permission, from The Art of Teaching, by HG Bhurijana Prabhu

Who Owns the Problem?

The first step in trying to solve a problem is to identify who owns it, because you need to approach the situation differently if you own the problem or not. The owner is whoever is tangibly and concretely affected by the problem.

If the problem belongs to the other person, it is appropriate to listen, trying to understand exactly what is going on. If you own the problem, the counse

With growing Krishna consciousness all over the world ISKCON has been instrumental in bringing many souls under the shelter of Lord Sri Krishna with its Philosophy, Kirtans, Prasadam, etc.,  however the villages and tribes located in remote areas remain unaware of the good fortune in Kaliyuga.

An initiative was taken by devotees from ISKCON Pune and with dedicated efforts and Krishna’s mercy a new preaching centre ”Bhagavad Darshan Prachar Kendra” was established in Bodhan village, Telangana.

I